Restoration of an Aston Martin V8

Monthly Archives: July 2010

It’s been an interesting few weeks – work has been frustrating but with moments of real satisfaction.

Two months of intense activity culminated in a trip down the Thames from the 2012 Olympics site with the CEO of the Port of London Authority in no less than the Royal Barge! And what’s more, I was given the opportunity to take the helm from Battersea bridge to Westimnster. I didn’t like to tell them I couldn’t see where I was going! I just followed a tug towing four barges of garbage down stream.

Aston evicted by piggies….

I’ve just got back from the farm – had a very productive weekend, but had a bit of a fright as we thought the pigs were going to overwinter in the barn where I keep the spare Aston and Malcolm keeps (some of) his spare Renaults. In the end the pigs will be staying up at the top of the farm – but we’ve moved all the cars into the lock up barn anyway.

Robert has been over from Spain for a few days – just long enough for him to get his Rochdale Olympic finished – it’s a lovely colour and compliments Malcolm’s prize R4.

Wensleydale and Camembert…!

The Aston Engine

So far the engine seems in remarkably good condition. There is evidence that it’s been rebuilt once before. The rough stuff probably came at the end of it’s career as a TV star. Gary pointed to a very gungy looking water intake. – “What do you think that is?” he asked – “Buggered if I know.” I retorted….

Turns out it’s egg…! Apparantly, a cheap and dirty way to plug a leaking radiator is to crack an egg into it. And that’s what the crew must have done in Sardinia during filming, when I inspected the radiator that came out of the car, it was indeed damaged and similarly filled with scrambled egg. So a new radiator it is then.

Engine number – it’s the original engine.

Top end

Bottom end with sump removed showing crank shaft

And the engine bay is almost ready to welcome the engine back when it’s been put back together. Although there is little major wrong, I’ve still got an eye-wateringly expensive shopping list of thins we need for the rebuild.

The new government is certainly making life interesting… goalposts have lives of their own it seems.

The sword of Damacles hangs over large parts of the public sector – and throughout the country they are having meetings, setting up decision making groups and generally sticking their heads up their respective behinds.

Boy, do I need to get my hands greasy!

The last two trips to the farm entailed more partying than serious car building, but not so this one.

The engine will soon be completely stripped and assessed (and photos pasted on this blog) and the re-assembly will begin. I have a rather frightening shopping list to order in before I go off to Vietnam and Cambodia at the end of next week.

Yes, more travels. Perhaps we should rename this blog “Travels with My Aston” well we will when ROJ is finished!